Singer and actor Christian Bautista’s heritage home in Imus, Cavite, is one of historical and familial value.

Actor and singer Christian Bautista may be currently living in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), but his true residence is an ancestral home in Imus, Cavite, which is also home to parents Ebert and Jo, as well as younger brothers Joshua and Jordan.

Early this year, MyProperty.ph visited the Bautistas’ home and had a chat with the performer to learn more about him and his family’s historical sanctuary in the South. Here are 10 interesting facts we found out.

1. Prior to being sold off and developed into a subdivision, the land surrounding the Bautista heritage home was once a rice field.

2. Christian’s grandparents have owned the property even before World War II, making it over 70 years old.

3. Originally, the Bautista home was a smaller bungalow. An extension has since been added to it, turning it into a 500-square-meter, four-bedroom, five-bathroom structure.

To comfortably accommodate the Bautistas, the home was renovated and expanded; it now has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. (Photo by Mark Cris Bautista)

4. According to Christian, the original home sustained termite damage, so a lot of renovation had to be done. To achieve its current look, the family used coco lumber. A benefit to them, Christian explained, because it gives the wooden elements of the home an upscale look without the high price.

5. In creating the main theme of the property, Christian’s dad Ebert took inspiration from a magazine. The older Bautista found a photo of a log cabin in a glossy, and had an architect draw up a design based on it. They then worked on the landscape to match the aesthetic of the façade.

6. Over the years, the Bautista ancestral home has undergone a lot of changes to keep up with the changing needs of its residents. Most of the members of the family had a hand in recreating it, including the singer himself. As a graduate of landscape architecture from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Christian has always had a passion for design, even more so for ones that offer both form and function.

According to Christian’s mom Jo, the platform at the front door is one of the pre-War features still present in the home. (Photo by Mark Cris Bautista)

7. The ancestral home’s exterior is lush with tall trees as well as various flowering shrubs, and the family stayed true to their roots when it came to sourcing them. Christian said the plants used in landscaping the property can be found in different cities of the province, including Imus, Silang, and Tagaytay.

8. Ancestral homes may give off the impression of being traditional and classic, but the Bautista home has enough modern eccentricities sprinkled about to remind visitors that it’s first and foremost a family home. For one thing, mingling with family photos in the living room are a few Coca-Cola bottles from Jordan’s collection. Sitting on top of an upright piano is Christian’s collection of Marvel comics. And next to a bookcase at the second floor landing is a life-size statue of Batman.

The Bautista home is an interesting mishmash of traditional and modern. Found in the living room are vintage chandeliers as well as various Coca-Cola memorabilia. (Photo by Mark Cris Bautista)

9. The Bautistas are animal lovers. In fact, currently living on the property are 30 dogs, most of which are owned by Christian’s ninang who lives in a residence across the performer’s home. Also, one part of Christian’s home has been screened off to accommodate their two cats.